Asia includes 48 countries and today I want to share with you 5 reasons why I love Asia. You will also find out why it is one of the favorite continents to work and play for many digital nomads and startup entrepreneurs.
During my first world trip in 2015, I realized I was born to travel, got hooked on it and from that journey on I haven’t stopped. But no matter where ever I go, I find myself coming back to Asia and when I reflect on it. Below are the 5 reasons I found out why I love Asia.
5 Reasons why I love Asia
1. I like eating Asian food or versions of it
Asia is diverse with different cuisines. Within each country, there are many ethnicities and under those hundred ethnicities, there are hundreds of sub-ethnic people with their own customs, food, and traditions. Imagine trying all those thousand different types of food in each Asian country! I know I will never be bored with the variety of local food in Asia and its amazing smells!
I also believe Food is what brings people together and when you are traveling, it becomes a major factor. That one meal you shared with a stranger could lead to a source of information for the next leg of your trip or solution to your current problem or even a good friendship, brotherhood/ sisterhood you name it. It could happen while devouring local phat Thai in Ko San Road in Bangkok, Guilin noodles in remote China or munching over Banh Mi in Vietnam.
Food is power and if you have lived in Asia for a while you know how easy it is to strike a conversation over food. Well, you could do the same in your home country. I hear ya! But Shit ain’t that easy in first world countries. I have friends who have gone back to their countries from traveling and every time they try to have a conversation with a random stranger, all they get is a bitch face. So, yeah ..perhaps people are a friendly while away from home in a foreign land because nobody wants to be alone!
Anyway, back to food. In some Asian countries, you don’t even have to worry about closing time. Hungry at 2 am? no worries just walked down the street and plenty of choices. Asia is a sort of food heaven that opens 24 hours (in some cities), affordable and has food that tastes way better than McDonald’s takeaway.
2. I enjoy being surrounded by nature
Some of the world’s tallest mountains are in Asia, some of the World’s best beaches are in Asia, heritage monuments can also be found here and nature’s unique creations also. Lucky Asia! But it’s not only that, it is more about how it makes you feel when you are being surrounded by nature. Remember that inner calmness and clarity?
I walk for two minutes from my room and there is a beach waiting for me. In another Asian country, I open my window and there are mountains to be climbed and beautiful places to be explored. Landscapes untouched, nature breathtaking. It is hard not to fall in love with mother nature in Asia. Plus the weather is probably better than your home or last country you were in. No wonder many digital nomads and travelers folk back to Asia time and again just to be around those amazing nature.
3. I like participating in festivals
Another benefit that comes with all those thousand ethnicities is they have their own festivals, occasions, and traditions to celebrate. However, holidays for those celebrations could be nationwide or state only. Just to give you an example: In one calendar month, there are more than 5 festival celebrations in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is crazy I know. It is such a vivid experience to see communities coming together for different occasions in one month.
This is something that doesn’t happen often in other parts of the world and clearly why most travelers tell me how plain life is back home. Only festivals to attend were Music or food festivals – fun but this is interesting at a different level, tasting cultures through festivals. It is definitely a fun and easy way to understand its history and people of the country too. No surprise many nomads plan their travels around the festivals.
4. Cost of living is cheap in Asia
Whether it be a rooftop terrace with beautiful sunsets view or bedroom overlooking a stunning city view. You can have them all between $300-400 p/m. And some even come with FREE Maid Service. What is the laundry! Combine that with full English breakfast for less than $10 or dinner at a fancy place for 2 under $50. It is affordable to live in Asia unless you go above and beyond your budget and go out drinking every night. Even then some cities like Hanoi you could buy beer for 25c!
You can have the Queen or the King life in Asia that you can only dream about in your own country. Life gets on the way when you pay ridiculous rent to live in a shoebox with no sunsets view. Same with the food price, taxi fares and everything else. But you could have all this and more for a reasonable price in Asia.
5. It’s nice meeting friendly people
Traveling on your own to one of the Asian countries? Fear not! Making new friends at the hostel means always having someone to throw back shots of tequila with. Fellow nomad friends made from teaching English, online business or at the bar? Consider them your new family! We are talking real conversation here not just some small talk. No better feeling than finding your type of people in a foreign land right?
All that to say I love Asia and I can’t wait to run back to it again!
What’s on my bag:
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Digital Camera
This has been my favorite Camera so far. I love how my pictures come out crisp and colorful. You can check out what I mean on my Instagram which is here. If you like it, chuck a follow.
Accessories For Canon GX7 Mark ||
Check it out here
GoPro HERO4 Silver
This is the good old Go pro that I take with me everywhere. I recommend it because it is small, lightweight and waterproof. I have had made many memories with this trusted item and looking forward to more.
Accessories For Go Pro Hero 4
Check it out here
SanDisk 64 GB Memory Cards
I have been using SanDisk since my first camera which was back in 2009. They build quality memory cards. I recommend getting at least two, just in case something happens to one of them.
All-in-One Memory Card Reader
Do you think it’s a hassle of plugging your camera into your computer? This memory card reader will fit cards of all sizes and make an easy transfer to your computer. The reader supports all popular SD memory card formats, including SD™/SDHC™/SDXC™ memory cards, UHS-I SDHC/SDXC memory cards, and microSDHC™/microSDXC™ memory cards. It is also compatible with the latest UDMA 7-enabled CompactFlash cards.
Let me know in the comments if –
- you have any questions about this I love Asia post.
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Asia is one of those imaginary places that when it is turned into reality after a trip you don’t seem to have enough, you always want more Food and caring people are two of the most important reasons to love the countries, and then there’s nature, as you say, which leaves you in total awe every step you take. Great post, I enjoyed your point of view, and agree with all the things you mention. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Asia! Can’t wait to go back!
Absolutely relateable. Since I reside in South-East Asia, all the above points really help in connecting with the cities better and staying put at this part of the world. 🙂 Cheers!!
These are all amazing reasons for my push to get to asia and explore. So much nature, food and incredible things to explore!
Hi! Asian here 🙂 I agree with your post and I am glad that you like Asia. I guess this continent it the most beautiful and interesting place on the planet.
Its really awesome for Europeans or Americans to explore Asia with the very favourable currency conversion!!!
The opposite is really difficult! When I was exploring Europe, it was really very costly thing to do!
Yes, Asia is so blessed with so much of Mother Nature’s bounty!
being a Asian i know all these things about Asia but i appreciate you to mentioned these things in your post. these are exactly correct. It seems you have explored Asia deeply.
Seems like many of these points aren’t really unique to Asia. But great post!
I couldn’t agree more with everything you said! Apart from this, I am also in love with Asia because this where I feel free in Happy! I don’t find the same feeling in Europe, Meddle East or Africa…
These are fantastic reasons to go to Asia. I’m ashamed to say that the furthest I’ve gotten to is Turkey…I like Asian food so that is a huge motivator and you won’t catch me in a Mickey D”s when in another country unless I’m going to the washroom…lol
Asia is the next continent on my list. I have only been to Tokyo which seems quite different than a lot of Asia, but with 48 countries to explore I’m not surprised it’s different! I have heard really good things about Asia in general though, I think maybe 2019 will be my Asian adventure!
I have only seen a couple of Asian countries but I can agree on these. I would love to explore more of it soon. And yes, the food there is super good and cheap. Love it!
Asia is a vast continent and is home to so many cultures – I especially love Central Asia – its vast, endless landscapes, mountains, lakes and unspoiled by mass tourists cultural attractions. And don’t even start about food – I adore Asian food! 🙂
Loved reading your perspective about Asia. Being in India, I can identify with most of these. The mind boggling cuisine is something that one will get addicted to. Especially the wide range of Indian vegetarian cuisine is something I look forward to come back to whenever I am traveling outside.
Cheap thrills and eating out. Probably my favorite things from my life in Asia. Can’t get over the street food in Bangkok.
These are all great reasons to travel to Asia. I am from the Philippines and I like going to other places in Southeast Asia too. The food is the best. There are so much variety and lots of vegetable dishes. It is also good that the accommodations are quite affordable too so you can definitely do a lot with your budget.
Asian countries have some very interesting traditions as you pointed out. Whether food, or festivals or even nature, there is so much to look out for. And yes, people are a huge bonus here. Glad you wrote this!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank for stopping by!
Eating out and cheap thrills and what not. Asia is full of craziness and life!
And the awesome friendly people!
You are absolutely right! I guess I’m already addicted to Asia. I love every time I visit yet another country! 🙂
I’m the same! Can’t wait to visit soon 🙂
I totally agree! The abundance and variety of foods in asia is amazing! I can’t see why you would bother cooking yourself with so many cheap options! haa
Exactly my thoughts! I rarely cooked at home when i was living there. are you still in Asia?
No, I was only in China for a couple of weeks in April. It was my first time in Asia though and I have fallen in love!
I’ve never been to Asia, but I definitely want to. It looks beautiful and the culture is amazing
True this. Asian cultures are so diverse. I myself am from Indonesia and finding Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and China fascinating and different! I’m so looking forward to visiting Nepal and Turkey.
So looking forward to exploring Asia. Thanks for the tips
I so agree with all the points that you have mentioned. You will not find this diversity in any other part of the world.
This article yes so cool and I specially love the photos at the pool and of the sky. Very inspiring and thank you so much for sharing this
I agree 100%!! I was going to say “I miss Asia!” but realized I’m in Japan haha. I meant to say I miss Southeast Asia!